Chicago, U.S.A. — “Together we are Feeding America” is the message of a new series of radio public service advertisements (PSAs) unveiled on October 15, by Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, and the Ad Council. The PSAs feature music mogul and entrepreneur 50 Cent, best-selling author and daytime host Rachael Ray, Today ShowCo-host Al Roker, singer Josh Groban, registered dietitian and Cooking Channel host Ellie Krieger, and actress Ana Ortiz.

These members of the entertainment industry are lending their voices to PSAs to show their support of hunger-relief. In addition, to raise awareness about the more than one in five children who often suffer from hunger in silence, complementary radio ads were released featuring everyday children.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that more than 50 million Americans, including nearly 17 million children, are food insecure, meaning they live as risk of hunger.

“We are grateful for the support of the Ad Council, Cutwater and these generous celebrities, who are helping to raise awareness of the problem of hunger in America. They are lending their time and talent to our mission because children shouldn’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from,” saidMatt Knott, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Feeding America.

Created pro bono by Cutwater, the PSAs target adults in an effort to strategically breakdown stereotypes about the faces of hunger. The ads highlight that hunger is closer than you think, but so is the solution. Listeners are directed to visit www.feedingamerica.org/Hunger for ways to help and to find their local food bank.

“We are very grateful that these recognizable people have lent their voices to Feeding America and the issue of hunger. The problem continues to be monumental,” said Chuck McBride, Founder & Chief Creative Officer of Cutwater. “Cutwater will continue to do whatever we can to help end hunger in our country.”

People struggling with hunger are individuals and families who live in communities throughout the country. They work hard each day to do everything they can to change their circumstances so they will not have to worry about where their next meal will come from.

“We are proud to continue our work with Feeding America to encourage Americans to step forward and play a role in the fight against hunger,” said Peggy Conlon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ad Council. “These celebrities and children who graciously donated their time and voices will inspire communities nationwide to get involved with their local food banks to make a difference in the lives of so many.”

Per the Ad Council model, the PSAs will be distributed to media outlets nationwide this week and will run and air in advertising time that is donated by the media. These PSAs are part of the national Hunger Prevention campaign, which has received more than $146 million worth of donated media since its launch in November 2008.

Listen to the radio PSAs here.

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“Desperate Housewives” star James Denton and production companies Skydive Films and Casting Life Films have teamed up to produce a powerful new documentary tackling the hunger issue in America.

“When I think about hunger, I think about kids in third world countries, not adults and children here in America. When you hear the stats, they are staggering,” says Zac Adams who is serving as the film’s writer, director, and producer. My goal with this film is to educate and raise awareness. We hope to motivate people to get out there and do something about this growing epidemic.”

“It’s an issue that definitely needs to be talked about,” says Denton, who is serving as the film’s narrator and is best known for playing Mike Delfino on ABC’s hit show, “Desperate Housewives.”

“I am passionate about the issue of Hunger in America because in a country with so much excess, food should not be considered a luxury,” says co-producer Mindy Lawrence.

Mike Stryker, who is serving as the film’s cinematographer and editor, states that, “A third world exists here in America, a world that most Americans have never seen.”

The film has already begun shooting and will continue filming across the United States until summer 2012.

Director Zac Adams’ most recent film, “Nashville Rises,” an Emmy-nominated documentary narrated by Oscar winner Billy Bob Thornton, tells the story of how the city responded to the worst natural flood disaster in Tennessee history.

“With ‘Nashville Rises,’ we hoped to inspire people of how a community came together  and a city rose up. In ‘Hunger in America,’ our mission is to make a positive impact by screening this film on TV, film festivals, and the Internet. Funds made on this film will go back into the communities where people need it the most.”

“Hunger in America” will be released in the fall of 2012. It’s co-produced by Randy Ryder, Joel Hahn, Mark Slaughter, Mike Stryker, Jeffrey Chase, and Camron Carrier, all of whom worked on “Nashville Rises.”

Image Courtesy of   Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

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Safeway and Kraft Foods have announced the culmination of the Help Us End Hunger (Every Bag Counts) food drive, a national program helping fight hunger in communities across the country.

With the help of generous Safeway customers, nearly 362,000 bags of groceries were secured for food banks and other hunger relief centers throughout the U.S.  In addition to helping provide products for the food drive, Kraft Foods donated the monetary equivalent of 3 million meals* –$420,000– to local food banks in Safeway’s U.S. operating divisions.

Part of Kraft Foods’ donation helps support the efforts of 100 Safeway stores that sold the most food drive bags for local food banks.  These “Top 100 Food Banks” will receive a monetary grant as part of Kraft Foods’ three million meal donation.

The Help Us End Hunger (Every Bag Counts) food drive was central to Safeway’s end-of-year giving initiative.  High-quality pantry staples were pre-selected and bagged, allowing customers to purchase the bag for a discounted price and place it in a donation barrel that went directly to a local food bank.

“Hunger is a very serious issue in our country that often goes overlooked,” said Larree Renda, Safeway Executive Vice President and Chair of the Safeway Foundation. “Sadly, more than 50 million Americans, or one in six of our neighbors, struggles to put food on their tables.

That’s why we joined with Kraft Foods and encouraged our customers to help us tackle this problem.  The Help Us End Hunger (Every Bag Counts) food drive and Kraft Foods’ meal donation meant that nearly 362,000 families in need had nutritious food.”

Safeway is a longtime hunger relief advocate and an industry leader in environmental sustainability, ethical business practices and effective community outreach.

Safeway upholds an operating philosophy that is rooted in corporate social responsibility and focused on four key fundamentals: People, Products, Community, and the Planet. These fundamentals are “The Heart of Safeway,” bringing together our passion for food and serving our customers with the rapidly developing needs of our communities and our planet.

Kraft Foods has a long-standing commitment to fighting hunger.  The three million meal donation for Help Us End Hunger (Every Bag Counts) is part of Kraft Foods’ “Huddle to Fight Hunger,” a program that has raised more than 25 million meals for Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/KraftFightHunger

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Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, and the DreamWorks Pictures movie The Help, are joining forces this holiday season to help feed Americans facing hunger. Coinciding with the DVD/Blu-ray release of The Help on December 6, a national donation campaign will run from December 1 to December 11 to generate food and funding to help feed the 1 in 6 people in the United States who do not have enough to eat.

“The economic downturn really hurt American families,” said Feeding America Director of Media Relations Ross Fraser. “As a nation, we need to come together to help our neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet. The collaboration between Feeding America and the producers of The Help is a great example of how we can come together to make a difference.”

“The film’s hopeful message of creating change along with its home entertainment release during the holidays inspired the team here to reach out and help make a difference in people’s lives,” noted Jeff Small, President and Chief Operating Officer of DreamWorks Studios.

“Feeding America seemed the perfect fit in that it operates nationally but is focused locally and housed within the communities it serves and will directly benefit those in need. We’re happy The Help can help.” To help put food in the hands of as many people/families in need this holiday season, Feeding America/ The Help are asking consumers to please help contribute in one of the following ways.

It’s this simple:

• Donate Online - Every $1.00 donated can help Feeding America provide meals eight meals for people in need. People who make online donations at www.feedingamerica.org/thehelp between December 1 and 11 will receive a limited-time $5.00 off coupon toward the purchase of the film The Helpon Blu-ray or DVD.Touchstone Pictures, the affiliate of The Walt Disney Company that distributed The Help, will provide a matching donation of up to $10,000, with a goal of providing more than 200,000 meals to families at risk of hunger.

• Get Social – Throughout the month of December, Facebook and Twitter fans of The Help will be encouraged to take action in their local communities. The Help Facebook and Twitter accounts will post details about how people can get involved and ask fans to provide feedback and talk about their local community efforts/contributions.

• Drop Off Food – Feeding America/The Help themed food donation boxes will be positioned at local community events in Manhattan, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas and Atlanta throughout December. The food collected will be distributed the local Feeding America food bank. Please consider donating foods that are most frequently requested, such as cereal, pasta, rice, beans, canned fruits and vegetables, soups, 100% juices, peanut butter, canned tuna, chicken or turkey.

Those who would like to stay connected with the Feeding America/The Help program are encouraged to:

• “Like” the Facebook page

• Follow us on Twitter

Unprecedented demand for food assistance

The state of the economy is affecting more Americans than any other time in recent history. The US Department of Agriculture reports that 49 million Americans are food insecure. Feeding America reports a 46 percent increase in the number of people seeking emergency food assistance through their nationwide network of food banks compared to four years ago.

For those not living in the five cities where the food drive takes place, DreamWorks will be doing grassroots and media awareness campaigns to encourage local community efforts. As well, you can find other ways to help on TakePart.com/TheHelp, the social action website sponsored by The Help‘s producing partners Participant Media.

Who’s Helping?

The #1  New York Times  best-seller by Kathryn Stockett comes to vivid life through the powerful performances of a phenomenal ensemble cast. The Help is an inspirational, courageous and empowering story about very different, extraordinary women in the 1960s South who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project — one that breaks society’s rules and puts them all at risk.

Filled with poignancy, humor and hope — and complete with compelling, never-before-seen bonus features — The Help is a timeless, universal and triumphant story about the ability to create change. To learn more about the movie please visit, http://thehelpmovie.com/us/.

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors.

Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/austinfoodbank/

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